This nine-year old boy was, at the time of the mother's appeal for help,
covered with a severe rash. The cause is not hard to find. Virgo rising
diagnostically draws attention to any planets posited there, and in this chart
there are three streams of influence: Jupiter, Dragon's Tail and Pluto in
close conjunction to the Ascendant, which indicates an intestinal delicacy.

Pluto, whose power has been suggested as at least double that of Mars, is in
the 12th house. As it is stressfully aspected, this placement is a strong
warning of possible inflammation. The fact that it is so close to the Dragon's
Tail (a Saturnine crystallizing influence) and Jupiter (arterial circulation)
all squaring Mercury, the ruler of Virgo, and opposing Moon, shouts loud and
clear that the child has an intestinal problem. And, increasing the
significance, is the addition of Uranus to the Jupiter-Dragon's Tail-Pluto
conjunction, giving another dimension to the already poor function of the
intestines. Uranus square to Mercury causes nervous spasms in the last section
of the large intestine, the impurities already in evidence providing a
condition in the colon for the accumulation of poisons. If that were not
enough, waiting to add further damage is the retrograde Neptune in Scorpio
opposing Venus in Taurus heralding the tendency to food poison residues.
Immediately we see why the blood is affected and why the child has such a
severe rash. He needs a carefully planned diet to manufacture pure blood and
high enemas to cleanse the colon. We would suggest he not be given drugs as
the body does not have the capacity to eliminate them properly, consequently
adding to the already toxic condition.

The 6th house (health) offers a key to the reason he has these difficulties.
Moon (functions) is there in Pisces, showing low resistance to these
onslaughts, making it more than usually imperative that every care should be
taken to keep ALL the eliminative functions in good order.

Before leaving this group of aspects let us regard Mercury from another
level. It rules the bronchial tubes; evidently purification which normally
occurs in the natural breathing process does not take place, another sign of
the inability to expel poisons. Mercury has four square aspects and no good
ones. With such an active mind, he is likely to view life through a distorted
lens, and when he is older he will not willingly change his diet or his
nervous habits to prevent poor physical health, unless, of course, he becomes
a fanatic and lives on vitamins. And, the youngster will have to learn to tell
the truth. The affliction to Mercury is heavy enough to indicate he will
suffer quite a bit before he learns to SEE truth; he will need special
training to see things in a different light. (Here is a situation which will
make us want to warn the mother, but as counselors we must be very careful
what we say to prevent a negative reaction.) In this chart, Neptune is very
important: it is in Scorpio, the sign of healing, and although its opposition
to Venus allows poison to generate, it is a direct channel to the Divine
Healing Powers. While he is a child his parents must choose the food to meet
his requirements. If they are wise and follow the suggestion given, the child
might be trained to like the right kind of food, but again, his Mercury is not
likely to accept these ideas because they don't seem reasonable to him. If he
learns to respond to his "inner voice" (Neptune-Uranus sextile) he will save
himself much grief.

There is an aspect which provides strength to carry him through his
vicissitudes; Sun is sextile Saturn, giving a steadying quality. It is the
only aspect either planet makes--it is an isolated cool spot upon which all
his relationships may be quieted. The solid core versus the flighty spasmodic
mercurial mind will keep him quite busy for a while--at least until experience
has taught him to anchor his evasive and sometimes daydreaming mind.

Can you see the two outstanding and opposite traits in one person? That of a
certain knowledge and behavior due to a reasoning distortion, and on the other
hand, the strong inner knowing that comes from Neptune sextile Uranus trine
Moon aspects. We are still full of contradictions and our job is to bring
harmony into spiritual manifestation.

Glaucoma is an eye disease which results when there is build-up of fluids in
the eye that causes intense pressure within the eyeball and impairs its normal
function. If not relieved, the fluid pressure will mount and result in a
permanent damage and eventual blindness. Glaucoma is often accompanied or
cuased by a hardening of the normally pliable eyeball. Sometimes it is a
secondary effect of other ocular diseases and sometimes the result of
contraction, but often it is the outcome of malfunctioning kidneys that do not
properly filter salts and other substances from the blood stream. Very
critical balances are upset through absorption of waste and poisons by the
blood and the osmotic processes are disturbed. This could cause either an
excess of or a deficiency of fluids or waste in any part of the body, but
usually manifests in the weakest part. This native's weak spot is her eyes.

The original cause probably lies in her unusual appetite for liquids and
certain foods as intimated by Neptune in Cancer opposition Sun and Uranus in
Capricorn, the latter placement making it hard for her to digest the food
properly, or to accept suggestions about a change of diet. A clue to the
possible result of the Neptunian indulgences lies in Pisces on the 6th House
cusp.

Libra, the sign on the Ascendant, governs the kidneys and its ruler, Venus,
is squared by the obstructing Saturn from the house of health. The fiery
signs, especially Aries, are associated with light, illumination,and vision,
while the presence of Saturn in Aries indicates hardening and strong pressure
in the head and eyes.

A remarkably accurate picture of these physical conditions is shown by the
Sun and Moon in their unusual negative square which is strengthened by their
angular positions, the signs holding the co-afflicting luminaries, the
Ascendant, and the Saturn-Venus square all combining to bear testimony to a
strong emotional nature. It is a nature of great wants and needs and on that
level craves satisfaction. On the mental level she has the capacity to control
these emotional flights, for the "offending" 6th House Saturn is also sextile
Mercury in the airy sign Aquarius and trine Mars in the fiery sign
Sagittarius. The only barrier to her continual use of the constructive mental
activities are her excursions into daydreaming and a tendency to worry as
shown by Mercury square Moon. It is likely that the emotional element will be
stronger, reflecting the Libran Ascendant and the negative Moon aspects from
the first house. Consequently she will respond more actively to the cardinal
sign afflictions from Cancer and Capricorn.

A brief look on the other side of the coin shows Jupiter in Virgo in the
11th House excellently aspecting Neptune in the 9th House and Uranus in the
3rd House. Surely this woman has a strong religious quality, although it is
possible she would be more interested in the church than in occult matters,
especially when she was younger. Quite often the search for inner peace comes
through conflicting elements in a person's chart, and Jupiter, the planet of
"religion," is sextile the inspirational Neptune. Again, the majority of
people keep their religious convictions separate from their everyday living,
so it is possible to have such a wonderful quality and still wish to satisfy
the craving for the kind of food which prevents perfect health.

This same Jupiter-Neptune combination could hopefully show her ability to
respond to spiritual healing and perhaps persuade her, through awakened
aspirations, to change her diet and regain her health.

This article was adapted from the literature of The Rosicrucian Fellowship.

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